Industrial pan greasing system

Abstract

A greasing system comprising a lubricant; pressurized air; a spray nozzle assembly in communication with the lubricant and the pressurized air having a spray nozzle manifold that further includes a valve bar assembly having a lubricant reservoir in communication with the lubricant; a plurality of proportional solenoid valves in communication with the lubricant reservoir; a plurality of lubricant passages in communication with the proportional solenoid valves; a plurality air passages in communication with the source of pressurized air; and a plurality of valves positioned in-line between the pressurized air and each air passage; and a nozzle bar assembly detachably connected to the valve bar assembly that further includes lubricant passages in communication with the lubricant passages in the valve bar assembly; air passages in communication with the air passages in the valve bar assembly; chambers in communication with corresponding lubricant passages in the nozzle bar assembly and corresponding air passages in the nozzle bar assembly, wherein lubricant is deposited in each chamber through the lubricant passage; and a spray nozzle in communication with each chamber, wherein the pressurized air is used to propel droplets of lubricant from the nozzle.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A greasing system, comprising:
 (a) a source of lubricant; 
 (b) a source of pressurized air; 
 (c) a spray nozzle assembly in communication with the source of lubricant and the source of pressurized air, wherein the spray nozzle assembly includes a spray nozzle manifold, and wherein the spray nozzle manifold further includes:
 (i) a valve bar assembly, wherein the valve bar assembly further includes:
 a) a lubricant reservoir in fluid communication with the source of lubricant; 
 b) a plurality of proportional solenoid valves in fluid communication with the lubricant reservoir; 
 c) a plurality of lubricant passages in fluid communication with the plurality of proportional solenoid valves; 
 d) a plurality air passages in communication with the source of pressurized air; and 
 e) a plurality of valves positioned in-line between the source of pressurized air and each air passage in the plurality air passages; and 
 
 (ii) a nozzle bar assembly detachably connected to the valve bar assembly, wherein the nozzle bar assembly is specific to a predetermined style of pan, and wherein the nozzle bar assembly further includes:
 a) a plurality of lubricant passages in fluid communication with the plurality of lubricant passages in the valve bar assembly; 
 b) a plurality of air passages in communication with the a plurality of air passages in the valve bar assembly; 
 c) a plurality of chambers, wherein each chamber in the plurality of chambers is in communication with a corresponding lubricant passage in the nozzle bar assembly and a corresponding air passage in the nozzle bar assembly, and wherein a predetermined volume of lubricant is deposited in each chamber through the lubricant passage; and 
 d) a spray nozzle in communication with each chamber, wherein the pressurized air propels the lubricant from the spray nozzle in the form of droplets. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant includes edible grease. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the spray nozzle assembly further includes a mist collecting device. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the spray nozzle assembly further includes an enclosure having a lid which may be opened and closed. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a supportive frame on which the source of lubricant, source of pressurized air, and spray nozzle assembly are mounted. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the supportive frame further includes a gantry arm on which the spray nozzle assembly is mounted. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal disposed between the valve bar assembly and the nozzle bar assembly. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an air manifold assembly. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller for providing operational commands to the spray nozzle assembly. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of proportional solenoid valves includes up to individual solenoid valves. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein each solenoid valve in the plurality of proportional solenoid valves is adjustable, removable, and replaceable independent of the other solenoid valves. 
     
     
       12. A pan greasing system, comprising:
 (a) a source of lubricant; 
 (b) a source of pressurized air; 
 (c) a spray nozzle assembly in communication with the source of lubricant and the source of pressurized air, wherein the spray nozzle assembly includes a spray nozzle manifold, and wherein the spray nozzle manifold further includes:
 (i) a valve bar assembly, wherein the valve bar assembly further includes:
 a) a lubricant reservoir in fluid communication with the source of lubricant; 
 b) a plurality of proportional solenoid valves in fluid communication with the lubricant reservoir; 
 c) a plurality of lubricant passages in fluid communication with the plurality of proportional solenoid valves; 
 d) a plurality air passages in communication with the source of pressurized air; and 
 e) a plurality of valves positioned in-line between the source of pressurized air and each air passage in the plurality air passages; and 
 
 (ii) a nozzle bar assembly detachably connected to the valve bar assembly, wherein the nozzle bar assembly is specific to a predetermined style of pan, and wherein the nozzle bar assembly further includes:
 a) a plurality of lubricant passages in fluid communication with the plurality of lubricant passages in the valve bar assembly; 
 b) a plurality of air passages in communication with the a plurality of air passages in the valve bar assembly; 
 c) a plurality of chambers, wherein each chamber in the plurality of chambers is in communication with a corresponding lubricant passage in the nozzle bar assembly and a corresponding air passage in the nozzle bar assembly, and wherein a predetermined volume of lubricant is deposited in each chamber through the lubricant passage; and 
 d) a spray nozzle in communication with each chamber, wherein the pressurized air propels the lubricant from the spray nozzle in the form of droplets; and 
 
 (iii) a seal disposed between the valve bar assembly and the nozzle bar assembly; and 
 
 (d) an enclosure for housing the spray nozzle assembly, wherein the enclosure includes a lid which may be opened and closed. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the spray nozzle assembly further includes a mist collecting device. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a supportive frame on which the source of lubricant and source of pressurized air are mounted, wherein the supportive frame further includes a gantry arm on which the spray nozzle assembly and enclosure are mounted. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 12 , further comprising an air manifold assembly. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a controller for providing operational commands to the spray nozzle assembly. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of proportional solenoid valves includes up to 40 individual solenoid valves, and wherein each solenoid valve is adjustable, removable, and replaceable independent of the other solenoid valves. 
     
     
       18. An industrial pan greasing system, comprising:
 (a) a source of lubricant; 
 (b) a source of pressurized air; 
 (c) a spray nozzle assembly in communication with the source of lubricant and the source of pressurized air, wherein the spray nozzle assembly includes a spray nozzle manifold, and wherein the spray nozzle manifold further includes:
 (i) a valve bar assembly, wherein the valve bar assembly further includes:
 a) a lubricant reservoir in fluid communication with the source of lubricant; 
 b) a plurality of proportional solenoid valves in fluid communication with the lubricant reservoir; 
 c) a plurality of lubricant passages in fluid communication with the plurality of proportional solenoid valves; 
 d) a plurality air passages in communication with the source of pressurized air; and 
 e) a plurality of valves positioned in-line between the source of pressurized air and each air passage in the plurality air passages; and 
 
 (ii) a nozzle bar assembly detachably connected to the valve bar assembly, wherein the nozzle bar assembly is specific to a predetermined style of pan, and wherein the nozzle bar assembly further includes:
 a) a plurality of lubricant passages in fluid communication with the plurality of lubricant passages in the valve bar assembly; 
 b) a plurality of air passages in communication with the a plurality of air passages in the valve bar assembly; 
 c) a plurality of chambers, wherein each chamber in the plurality of chambers is in communication with a corresponding lubricant passage in the nozzle bar assembly and a corresponding air passage in the nozzle bar assembly, and wherein a predetermined volume of lubricant is deposited in each chamber through the lubricant passage; and 
 d) a spray nozzle in communication with each chamber, wherein the pressurized air propels the lubricant from the spray nozzle in the form of droplets; and 
 
 (iii) a seal disposed between the valve bar assembly and the nozzle bar assembly; and 
 
 (d) an enclosure for housing the spray nozzle assembly, wherein the enclosure includes a lid which may be opened and closed, and wherein an air manifold assembly mounted within the enclosure; 
 (e) a controller for providing operational commands to the spray nozzle assembly; and 
 (f) a supportive frame on which the source of lubricant, source of pressurized air, and controller are mounted. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the supportive frame further includes a gantry arm on which the spray nozzle assembly and enclosure are mounted. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of proportional solenoid valves includes up to 40 individual solenoid valves, and wherein each solenoid valve in the plurality of proportional solenoid valves is adjustable, removable, and replaceable independent of the other solenoid valves.